September is the start of spring bulb planting season – Iowa City Press-Citizen

Judy Terry, Green Thumb Published 7:30 a.m. CT Sept. 19, 2020

It has been a week of incredible sunshine and great temperatures that we hope will continue now that fall is just about here. Soon, we will be doing garden clean up, but now is the time to skip ahead several months to think about spring.

I have always thought planting bulbs in the fall is an act of faith. Sliding large bulbs into the still-warm earth, knowing a couple of seasons will pass before you see any results, is optimism. Yet, we plant, and we are quite sure they will bloom and bring warm weather with them.

This week, I visited the Ashton house on the bend of Park Road and Rocky Shore Drive. There are eight acres around the house with a view of the Iowa River. Each Monday, Project GREEN members, led by Diane Allen, arrive to spend a couple of hours making this landscape not just beautiful, but outstanding.

One announcement that met with cheerswas that a friend of Project GREEN would be donating up to a 1,000 bulbs to the project. Lots of work, but typically they are excited about it and looking forward to the happy planting times.

This the back side of the Aston House. Infront, you'll see turned over ground ready to be planted. Imagine it with a mass of daffodils.(Photo: Diane Allen / For the Press-Citizen)

Besides doing weeding and clean-up, many in the group were planting bulbs. That day, Grape Hyacinth or Muscari, an early spring purple/blue flower, small, but resembling a bunch of grapes, was being tucked in the ground in several different flower beds.

Next will come daffodils and maybe tulips, though the deer population is large and hungry and tulips are irresistible to them. Not so the daffodils. Not to their taste.

Luckily, they are favored by many gardeners, giving us a spring show that is hard to beat.

Linda Bergquist, Project GREEN volunteer is ready to plant spring bulbs in her chosen area at the Ashton House.(Photo: Judy Terry / Special to the Press-Citizen)

There are few rules as to planting spring bulbs, but it doesnt hurt to remember them. This is a down on your knees kind of job. Notice the pad Linda has in the picture above.

Daffodils are one of the largest bulbs to plant. When buying, look for big ones, nice and plump without any soft spots, as they will give you the largest flower. You will need to plant them two-and-a-half times their size, which makes a hole anywhere from 6-9 inches deep.

Find a place in your yard that gets lots of suna minimum of 6 hours in the spring. Grouping bulbs together always makes for a good show. Compost is a nice addition to the soil if sand or clay is present. Do cover well with soil and perhaps a few inches of mulch; this will help keep the squirrels from feasting on your bulbs.

Daffodil blooming in several shapes with white and yellow contrasting cups.(Photo: Judy Terry / Special to the Press-Citizen)

Spring bulbs are best planted in September and October, when the ground is cooler and the weather is nice. Like me, though, you may buy some and forget to plant them. Perhaps as you look around for Christmas paper and boxes you discover them. It may not be too late. In a column nearer cold weather, I will give you some advice as to planting them, even if there is snow on the ground.

Be Safe. Wear a Mask. Enjoy Gardening.

Do you have garden survival stories you want to share? Email me at judyaterry@gmail.com.

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September is the start of spring bulb planting season - Iowa City Press-Citizen